Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-07-09
VARIOUS FAMILIAR "AMERlcANlsMs."
An English Observer Points Out Differ

An English Observer Points Out Differ
ences in the Common Language.
Probably the most frequent question which
is put to an Englishman visiting these shores
for the first time, after having grappled with
the poser, What do yol think of Americai
is, Do you find much difference in the
dialects of the two countriesf That
there is difference nobody will deny; but
among the refined classes in New York, apart
from certain local expressions, it is far less
noticeable than would have been expected.
The first thing that would strike a
Londoner is probably the lazy, familiar
yeah" by which you are answered
on oil sides by persons from whom, in
England, you would expect eyes, sir" while
''See here" is also peculiarly American. If
the person you are addressing does not catch
your remark, he will startle you with
whats thats" "What is it," or "Howp
when in England he is accustomed to
.'Whatg" "Ehf" or beg pardon!' under SIM
liar circumstances.
There is no exact corresponding expression
in England "to get left" and ito get there"
the nearest approach being ito be in the
cart" and "to pull through"
The English never use the words 'sprevious"
or "freshn GmpudenD, ''rare meatn under
done), "feshyn Stout, dispatch" telegram,
'fulln (tipsy), ''homely" plain, addressed to
persons. An American child will call her
parents mamma and pappa, and will cause
shout of laughter or a shocked look when she
speaks of bugs" for ordinary insects, this
term being exclusively reserved in England
for the "bedn species 1t is hardly necessary
to allude to the use Ct the word guess"
(Anglice, 81 fancyn or 81 thinlS'D, as from
iaI he ha
has only got to say 81 guess" and talk through
his nose to imagine he is talking real good
Yankee" dude" is unknown in England
and no one there would know what was mean.
by ''dry goods store" Qinen drapers).
Londoners have nothing grander than
''house porter" to correspond to "janitor,"
and would possibly be puzzled to know what
was meant by "a high stoop house" or an
English basement house, They would also
ask for the diff" in place of the elevator"
and would think it strange not to have to go
up one fight to the "first" floor, as in England
they are accustomed to call this latter the
"ground floor" Such slangy expressions as
"You make me tired" ITO blow you off," II
feel kinder good (" II have had a real ele-
CANT time" are Enthusiastically American.
If you ask an American to take a drink. he
will reply, II should smile" the meaning of
which is obvious, and he may possibly offer
to give you "points" tips on some coming
race. The word "boss" takes the place Of our
governor" except when "a London street
Arab means to be particularly polite and to
gain your custom for box OF lights, etc. !,
when nothing under "capt'n" or "my lord"
is good enough. The word Candy in Amer
lea seems to cover all kinds of sweetmeats,
which are generally called "sweets" by the
crowd and sugar plumsp by the select in
England. There is also corruption of the
good old Scotch word "toffee," used generally
here, viz, 'taffee," and it sounds comical to
English ears to ask for piece OF apple pie in
place of tart, pie being only used when speak
ing of meat.-New York World